The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-09-30
A TALE OF TWO ARMS.
How Col. McWade and Maj Porter
Lost Them.
From the Ne,o York Mad and Express.

From the Ne,o York Nod and Express.
NARRAGANsETT PIER. Sept. 5-Maj. w.
Jay Porter and Col. John McWade were sit
ting at one end of the wide veranda looking
at the lights on the Sound and listening to
the sounds from the ball room.
Did you lose your arm in the war?"
asked pretty Miss Josie as she looked with
plying interest at the Colonel's empty
sleeve.
You tell her, Jay, replied Col. McWade
1T always affects me painfully to speak of
my loss.n
Certainly will, old fellow. Anything
to oblige you. This was years ago, Miss
JOSIE" continued Maj. Porter, "long before
John became AN opera singer. He was an
enthusiastic angler. He was passionately
fond of the sport. If John had good boat,
a neat basket of luncheon, plenty OF bait,
and broad-bottomed clain-rake, he would
enjoy himself in the broiing sun for hours
/ never met such an ardent fisherman in all
my life. One day John landed clam that
fairly took his breath away. You can
Judge from that what powerful fish it was
Ii was at least two feet long and foot thick
through the centre John sat for few min
utes, too much excited TO speak. He had
never seen SO large "A clam before. Visions
of gigantic eian-hakes flashed before his
nina. AS he was musing on his capture
he failed TO notice that the animal
was moving. Slowly it crawled
ont of the basket where he had put
il. over TO Johns feet, cautiously and steal
thily it crept up his legs until the first thing
join knew it was lying on his lap To say
that the Colonel was astonished would do
his surprise but partial justice. 1t was his
surprise that lost him his hand. Since that
fateful hour he has never allowed his sur
prise to interfere with any hand that he
might hold. 1t was only the other night, as
we were playing a social game of-er-er--
whist, that John had four aces, and think
he was the only man in the room who was
not surprised. What made it all the more
astonishing, too, was the fact that it was
Johns deal But es | was going to say,
John was SO surprised that he let his arm
| fall across the monsters arm"
'Wellp inquired Miss JOSIE nervously.
oh" replied the Major, calmly, "the
clam bit 1t OF. Awful wasn't it!
Eyes, indeed" continued the Major, i'm
pressvely, but remarkable as that was,
lost my arm in still more singular way. 4"
lis this story true, too, Majorp inquired
Miss Josie
MY honor on it," returned the Major.
with profound bow. LAS | was about TO
say, the story of my loss is as strange a tale
as you can find in fiction. 1t happened this
way: When was little boy, | lived, as
you know, with my wealthy grandfather on
plantation in louisiana Among his
slaves was an old negro from the very heart
of Africa. He had been priest among his
people. and rs remember him be still re-
tanned his priestly air. His presence was
very awe-l,spiring % me, and by some
mysterious means be- ruled over his fellow
slaves like king over his subjects
Old Neb, ~ he wns called, was
very find ~ me. He watched
over me q though were his own child.
went with him fishing and hunting, we
c8inJHsl out together ip the wOOis aud
slept many n night GA the deck of my little
Yacht one nHN ~ 80 went in hdtiung
N'a fieb showed zoe wonderful piece 81
inli0fiag nn hls lslt arm n represented a
hgu 81 20 setting sua, before which knelt